One of the most well-known supporters of the Washington National Guard, Debra Grice, was awarded the Region 10 Volunteer of the Year Award last week for her numerous volunteer efforts.

"She doesn't just talk the talk, she walks the walk," said Joint Services Support for the Washington National Guard Director Tom Riggs. "She provides a key link of support between our volunteers and our Guardsmen."

Grice's husband is part of Headquarters, Headquarters Company, 81st Armor Brigade Combat Team on Camp Murray, and she has become instrumental in supporting him, his unit and the rest of the National Guard.

"I think it's important to have the support of the family when you have a Soldier who is involved," she said. "It is important to set a good example of what that support should look like."

The first step toward a successful career might be work experience, but it doesn't mean a thing without presentation skills to bring. That's the message of the workshops before the big Career Day Thursday, May 23 at Camp Murray. You might be a tactical data systems specialist able to handle multiple launch rockets vehicles in quick strike situations, but if you stumble over your words in quick strike interview situations, you're not going to score the job.

According to the brilliantly named MilitaryHiringEvent.com, the Army Career and Alumni Program (ACAP) at Joint Base Lewis-McChord will host workshops to sharpen your skills before stepping in front of 70 companies the next day. Beginning at 8 a.m. with an Advance Resume Workshop in Building 91 at Camp Murray, your day follows with a 10 a.m. class on using social media to grab a job, then a 1 p.m. interview workshop. Before heading home to practice in front of the mirror, ACAP will teach you how to find a job fair.

Um, the job fair is the next day in the same complex.

ACAP will tell you to straighten up and send you into Building 33 to chat with 70 companies eager to hire the military's best - without an admission charge. Employers include Northrup Grumman, King County Sheriff, Swift Transportation, Comcast, Puget Sound Energy, Boeing, Microsoft, Safeway, Shell Oil, Wash. State Department of Health, Department of Veteran Affairs, Starbucks and other notable organizations.

"We can't do what we do without employers that support us and send us off to do our duty and welcome us home when we come back," said Maj. Gen. Bret Daugherty, state adjutant general of the Washington National Guard. "The state of Washington is one of the best employers in supporting our Guardsmen."

By signing this Statement of Support, Ferguson confirms that the office of the attorney general is joining the hundreds of other employers in supporting Washington's Guard and Reserve.